Getting up to Scratch with MADS

A COMMUNITY dance project is going beyond the dancing and teaching Woking’s youngsters about the origins of the hip hop culture. Scratch is a project for children aged three to 18 involving rehearsals and demonstrations leading to a 90-minute performance at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in December. Dancers performed at Wolsey Place on Saturday giving a sneak preview to shoppers of what is to come. Claire, who runs the MADS dance school in Woking, said: “Our mission is to support, educate and encourage youngsters to integrate through dance and music in a genre they can relate to. “We have searched and successfully found talented rap and hip hop performers from Woking and surrounding area. “These budding hip hop, break dancing and vocally sound youngsters have been given the opportunity through workshops with leading industry artists of putting on a spectacular showcase of music and dance.” Through the project Claire hopes to teach the youngsters to understand the roots of hip hop and rap. She said: “If you asked most people to give a definition of rap, they are likely to state that it is the reciting of rhymes to music. “It is a form of expression that finds its roots imbedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition. “Rap covers sensitive subjects such as racism, drugs and politics, which make it very poignant for youngsters.” Rap emerged from the hip hop culture and initially it consisted of four main elements, graffiti art, break dancing, DJ and rapping. Now it is a lifestyle with its own language, style of dress, music and mind-set that is continuously evolving. The Scratch show will be held at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre from December 16 to 18 at 8pm. Tickets from the Rhoda McGaw on 01483 545900 or from Scratch box office on 01483 797004 or 07770 874889.